(2) OTTAWA SENATORS VS. (3) BOSTON BRUINS

Kevin Allen: Bruins in 5. Special teams will give Boston the edge in this series. Patrice Bergeron's faceoff skills will also be important.

Jimmy Hascup: Bruins in 6. It only goes this far because of the Bruins' banged-up blue line.

Mike Brehm: Bruins in 6. Count on Brad Marchand to be rested and motivated after his suspension. The Bruins’ key will be neutralizing Erik Karlsson, who’s coming off an injury.

(1) WASHINGTON CAPITALS VS. (WC2) TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Kevin Allen: Capitals in 4. There's a big difference between qualifying for the playoffs and succeeding in them. Just ask the Capitals.

Jimmy Hascup: Capitals in 5. Washington is a more refined version of the Maple Leafs, who were playing critical games until the end.

Mike Brehm: Capitals in 5. Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin lost in their first career playoff appearances and Auston Matthews will do the same. The Capitals have better depth, experience, defense and goaltending.

(2) PITTSBURGH PENGUINS VS. (3) COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Kevin Allen: Penguins in 5. No one, John Tortorella least of all, liked how the Blue Jackets have been playing lately.

Jimmy Hascup: Penguins in 6. Kris Letang's absence hurts, but the Penguins have the experience to advance.

Mike Brehm: Penguins in 6.
Brandon Dubinsky has to be salivating about another chance to tangle with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins must overcome the loss of Kris Letang. But the Blue Jackets will find it hard to turn around a season-ending 1-5-1 slide.

(1) CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS VS. (WC2) NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Kevin Allen: Blackhawks in 7. There's a reason why the Blackhawks have won 65 playoff games since 2010.

Jimmy Hascup: Predators in 6. Nashville has the league's best defense and a forward group that is dangerous and deep.

Mike Brehm:
Blackhawks in 7. This is a tough Predators team, but the Blackhawks are seasoned and Jonathan Toews is back in form after a slow start.

(2) MINNESOTA WILD VS. (3) ST. LOUIS BLUES

Kevin Allen: Wild in 6. Believe in Bruce Boudreau. Believe in Devan Dubnyk. Believe that the Wild have the right offensive-defensive mix to get it done.

Jimmy Hascup. Wild in 6. Bruce Boudreau's team is built for the playoff grind, and Devan Dubnyk gives them an edge.

Mike Brehm: Wild in 6. Minnesota set a franchise record for wins and points and that’s despite a 1-7-2 stretch in March. They turned it around with a four-game winning streak. Time for Bruce Boudreau to show some playoff chops.

(1) ANAHEIM DUCKS VS. (WC1) CALGARY FLAMES

Kevin Allen: Flames in 6. Matthew Tkachuk will be in the middle of it if the Flames upset the Ducks.

Jimmy Hascup: Ducks in 6. It's hard not to overlook how the Ducks finished the regular season: 11-0-3.

Mike Brehm: Ducks in 7. Considering how well Flames goalie Brian Elliott played after regaining his No. 1 job, he will steal some games. But the Ducks will take advantage of home ice in Game 7.

(2) EDMONTON OILERS VS. (3) SAN JOSE SHARKS

Kevin Allen: Oilers in 6.
After watching the Oilers down the stretch, how can you doubt Connor McDavid's ability to lead this team?

Jimmy Hascup: Oilers in 6. The Oilers' season is not a fluke, and the health of key Sharks Joe Thornton and Logan Couture tip the scales further.

Mike Brehm: Oilers in 5. Yes, Connor McDavid is making his first playoff appearance, but he should continue his late-season surge and shine against a team that was porous at times down the stretch.

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April 9: Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) celebrates his 100th point of the season off a goal by Leon Draisaitl (not pictured) in the third period against the Vancouver Canucks.
Candice Ward, USA TODAY Sports

April 4: The Minnesota Wild wore Minnesota North Stars warm-ups before their game agains tthe Carolina Hurricanes. Forward Zach Parise took the tribute a step further by wearing his late father's helmet and gloves from his time with the North Stars organization.
Brad Rempel, USA TODAY Sports

March 28: Capitals forward Tom Wilson leaves the ice with a bloody face following a fight during Washington's game against the Wild at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Brace Hemmelgarn, USA TODAY Sports

March 23: Blackhawks left wing Ryan Hartman, right, and Stars center Radek Faksa, left, square off in a fight during the second period at the United Center in Chicago.
Dennis Wierzbicki, USA TODAY Sports

March 13: Calgary Flames goalie Brian Elliott (1) reacts as Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) scores a goal during the third period at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Flames would win in a shootout for their 10th straight victory.
Sergei Belski, USA TODAY Sports

Matt Cullen (7) of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates after scoring a goal during the third period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh defeated Philadelphia, 4-2.
Kirk Irwin, Getty Images

Feb. 11: Capitals forward Zach Sanford (82) celebrates after scoring the go-ahead goal against the Anaheim Ducks late in the third period at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 6-4.
Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports

Feb. 9: The Washington Capitals hosted Fatima Al Ali, who is from the United Arab Emirates, over the past few days. Here she is taking part in a ceremonial puck drop before the game against the Red Wings -- with Henrik Zetterberg, left, and Alex Ovechkin, right.
Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports

Jan. 10: Bruins forward David Backes (42) fights Blues defenseman Joel Edmundson (6) during the second period. It was Backes' first game back in St. Louis following his signing with Boston in the offseason.
Jeff Curry, USA TODAY Sports

Jan. 7: Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe (29) gets up off the ice after a big hit during the third period against the Jets. His hit on Winnipeg star rookie Patrik Laine started a line brawl.
Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 16: Sharks defenseman David Schlemko celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Canadiens' Carey Price. Price was pulled from the game after Montreal fell into a 4-0 hole.
Eric Bolte, USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 15: Stars center Cody Eakin (20) skates away after hitting Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) during the first period. Lundqvist briefly left the game, but returned to help lead a shutout.
Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 2: Sharks goalie Martin Jones, left, stops a shot attempt by Canadiens center Torrey Mitchell during the second period in San Jose. Jones made 31 saves in a 2-1 victory.
John Hefti, USA TODAY Sports

Nov 6.: Winnipeg Jets left wing Nikolaj Ehlers is stopped by New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist during the first period at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers won 5-2.
Danny Wild, USA TODAY Sports

Oct. 12: Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews celebrates his first NHL goal in the first period against the Senators. Matthews would score a debut-record four in the game.
Marc DesRosiers, USA TODAY Sports